Restoration

(An Inspirational Story from Steve Gregory & Pastor Lee of His Way Out Ministries, 2015)

Good morning Pastor Lee,

I pray this finds you well and enjoying abundant life. As we approach World AIDS Day 2015, I have just committed to supporting His Way Out on a bi-monthly basis, starting today. I also lift you up in prayer. I believe you are doing the Lord’s work like no other. May you continue to educate the Church and, as Jesus did, minister to those on whom society has placed stigma, rather than compassion.

Bakersfield is where I first accepted Christ, at a small Pentecostal church my precious grandma attended faithfully. I had lived a "gay" lifestyle through the late 1970’s thru 1988, when my friend Robin (who is now my wife of nearly 25 years) and I answered the altar call. I had also been heavily addicted to meth for several years. Through the resurrection power of the Lord, addictions were destroyed, brokenness was healed and Robin and I married and had two sons. Subsequently, we entered ministry with an organization where we served in several capacities, starting as children’s pastors. After a few years, the Lord put it on my heart to evangelize, which we did for a few years until we accepted and offer to become Associate Pastors in the Coachella Valley.

I wish I could say this had a happy ending, but it did not. Without going into any sordid detail, suffice it to say my wife and I were treated with legalistic harshness rather than grace. After serving for over 12 years in this organization, we resigned and left very broken. During ministry years, I had maintained a secular job and after our separation from the organization, I was so broken, I sobbed during my commute daily for two years. Regretfully, rather than trusting God to see us through the trauma, I fell back into the old lifestyle. Sexual promiscuity and drug use led to me becoming HIV+ in 2008. Thanks be to God, my relapse was short-lived and I returned to the Lord, albeit once again very broken. I’ve just risen up after a 5-year struggle with clinical depression and anxiety disorders. I attribute my healing from these disorders, along with the fact that HIV is now non-detectable in my system, to being in Scripture daily and taking God at His Word. We are entering the 8th year (God’s number of new beginning) since the entire trauma occurred, and we have weathered the storm through God’s mercy and grace.

I share this with you so you might remember me in prayer as well. Now that I’m once again ready to answer the Lord’s call on my life. The Bible says, "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance." Through this battle I’ve realized God hasn’t changed His thinking toward me. Before I became ill, I started an outreach in my area (greater Palm Springs) to those struggling with unwanted same sex attraction and drug addiction issues. Unfortunately, I had to let everything drop while I went through a maze of doctors and medications. I’ve been off all prescriptions except one HIV med since January of this year. I’m now ready to pick up where I left off and am asking the Lord to order my steps. Please agree with me that I’ll have wisdom through inspiration of the Holy Spirit. My desire is to reach those who have been traumatized and be an agent of hope to those needing restoration. Thank you, dear brother. Thank you for your prayer cover as I step out once again. I look forward to meeting you, whether we meet in this life or in Heaven.

In the love of Christ, Steve Gregory

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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